A Right to Call You Didn't: Nsereko Routed by Semakadde and the Courts. скачать в хорошем качестве

A Right to Call You Didn't: Nsereko Routed by Semakadde and the Courts.

In a dramatic and far-reaching judgment, the Constitutional Court has struck down the Computer Misuse Act, declaring it null and void after finding that Parliament enacted the law in direct contravention of the Constitution. The ruling effectively wipes the legislation off the books and marks a major victory for civil liberties. The decision follows a high-stakes petition brought forward by a coalition of civil society organizations, including Unwanted Witness Uganda, the African Centre for Media Excellence, and the Editors' Guild, alongside prominent individual petitioners such as Winnie Kiiza. Their challenge set the stage for one of the most closely watched legal battles over digital rights and free expression in recent years. At the heart of the storm lies the controversial Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, introduced in September 2022 by then–Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko. From the outset, the bill ignited widespread public outrage, with critics warning that it threatened to suffocate free speech and tighten state control over online discourse. Now, with the court’s decisive ruling, the political fallout is impossible to ignore. The judgment delivers a significant blow to Nsereko and has reignited fierce debate about the intent and consequences of the legislation he championed. The moment has also revived memories of a tense and widely circulated televised confrontation on NTV, where former Uganda Law Society President Isaac Semakadde launched a blistering critique of the law, openly challenging Nsereko’s motives and warning of its potential to erode democratic freedoms. As the dust settles, the ruling stands as a powerful statement on constitutional limits—and a defining moment in the ongoing struggle over free expression in Uganda.